Julius sat alone in the Spirit Hunters' stronghold, a towering fortress of obsidian and bone, still buzzing from last night's celebration. The defeat of the Mindless White God, a monstrosity wielding the powers of Ra, Zeus, Buddha, Venus, and Poseidon, had stopped Ragnarok Infinity—an endless cycle of destruction that threatened all existence. The courtyard below was quiet now, though skeletal warriors patrolled, their bones clattering in a rhythm that made Julius smirk. One skeleton tripped, its skull rolling into a ditch, prompting a chuckle. Even in victory, they're a mess, he thought.
The air shimmered, and Mahito's spectral form appeared—a regal silhouette crowned with ethereal flames, his presence both comforting and ominous. Julius felt the Spirit King's contract pulse in his chest, a reminder of their bond forged to end the war between the dead and the living. Bathala's tragic echo lingered in his mind—the creator god who lost his diwatas to Ragnarok's shadow, urging Julius to fight on.
"Mahito," Julius said, standing. "Ragnarok Infinity is done. But you said the war never ends. What's next?"
Mahito's voice rumbled like distant thunder. "You've earned rest, hunter, but knowledge is your next weapon. The hierarchy of spirits—from the lowliest soul to the eight Spirit Kings—shapes this war. Understand it, and you'll face what comes next."
The chamber darkened, and visions bloomed like a cosmic tapestry. Julius gripped his blade, ready for truth as heavy as his battles.
The Base: Mindless Spirits
Mahito's vision showed a swirling void of pale, formless lights. "The Mindless Spirits," he began, "are the foundation. Billions of souls, raw and without will, born from death's chaos. They drift in the ether, drawn to life's warmth. They're weak alone—granting minor boosts like strength or a fleeting vision—but in masses, they fuel gods and hunters."
Julius recalled his first hunt, a swarm of Mindless Spirits clinging to a rogue god's aura, amplifying its strikes. His skeletons had torn through them, their fragility no match for his Spiritual Domain. "They're fodder," he said.
"Yet essential," Mahito countered. "Without them, no higher spirit exists."
The Sentient Spirits/ Good spirits
The vision shifted to glowing figures with faint faces—human, beast, and myth. "Sentient Spirits," Mahito explained, "retain fragments of their past lives. They choose hosts, driven by emotion—love, vengeance, regret. Their bonds grant powers like elemental bursts or enhanced senses, but their whims make them unpredictable."
Julius remembered a Sentient Spirit, a warrior's soul, that had bonded with a fallen hunter. Its fire-based attacks had scorched a battlefield, but its grief made it lash out at allies. Julius's sealing magic had bound it, saving the team. "They're stronger but messy," he noted.
Mahito nodded. "They are the heart of the hierarchy—passionate, flawed, and vital."
The Guardian Spirits/Nature spirits
The tapestry showed towering figures tied to realms—a forest spirit with vines for limbs, an ocean spirit surging with waves. "Guardian Spirits protect specific domains," Mahito said. "They're bound to places—mountains, seas, skies. Their power is immense within their territory, rivaling lesser gods, but fades outside it."
Julius flashed back to a battle in a volcanic crater. A Guardian Spirit of magma had nearly incinerated him, its molten fists melting his skeletons. Only by luring it beyond its domain had he won, his god-slaying strike shattering its core. "They're tough in their backyard," he said.
"Indeed," Mahito replied. "But their limits make them vulnerable."
The Elite Spirits/ Demigods
The vision grew vibrant, showing warriors clad in ancient armor, their eyes blazing with purpose. "Elite Spirits are legends reborn," Mahito said. "Heroes, villains, or demigods, they seek worthy hosts to relive their tales. Their power matches minor gods, wielding weapons or magics of old."
Julius recalled facing an Elite Spirit—a samurai spirit bonded to a rogue hunter. Its blade had cut through his skeletons like paper, forcing Julius to use his Spiritual Domain to overwhelm it with sheer numbers. "They're rare but dangerous," he said.
"Rare and proud," Mahito agreed. "Their rivalries fuel wars in the ether."
The Divine Spirits/Gods
The tapestry shimmered with radiant forms, shaped by worship. "Divine Spirits are born from faith," Mahito explained. "Human belief molds them—gods of harvest, war, or love. They grant miracles but demand devotion. Their power is vast, tied to their followers' will."
Julius thought of a Divine Spirit he'd sealed—a deity of storms fueled by a cult's prayers. Its lightning had rivaled Zeus's, but when Julius broke its altar, its power crumbled. "They're only as strong as their worshippers," he noted.
Mahito's flames flickered. "Correct. Their strength is borrowed, not inherent."
The Spirit Lords /
The vision darkened, showing colossal figures commanding armies of spirits. "Spirit Lords rule domains in the ether," Mahito said. "They strategize, wielding legions of Sentient and Guardian Spirits. Their power is near-godly, but they're bound by balance—rules to prevent chaos."
Julius recalled a Spirit Lord, a shadowy tactician who'd sent waves of spirits against the hunters. His sealing magic had trapped its army, but the Lord escaped, vowing revenge. "They're like generals," he said.
"Precisely," Mahito replied. "They plan the wars you fight."
The Eight Spirit Kings
The chamber glowed as Mahito's form expanded, the vision showing eight thrones in a cosmic void. "The Spirit Kings are the pinnacle," he said. "Each governs an aspect of existence, their power shaping reality itself."
Mahito, First Spirit King (Origin): "I am creation, the spark of all spirits. My contracts bind souls to hunters, like yours, Julius. My power is vast but foundational, not suited for direct combat."
Julius nodded, feeling Mahito's energy in his veins. His skeleton-summoning stemmed from this contract, infinite bones born from the Origin.
Second Spirit King (Harmony): The vision showed a serene figure, radiating balance. "The Keeper of Harmony maintains order among spirits. Their power calms conflicts but can bind even gods to peace, weakening warriors."
Julius frowned, recalling a battle where his skeletons froze mid-strike, a calming aura stifling his will. "That was Harmony's doing?"
"Yes," Mahito said. "They limit chaos but rarely act."
Third Spirit King (War): A armored giant wielding a flaming spear appeared. "The Lord of War fuels battles, empowering spirits and hunters with rage. Their strength rivals gods, but their aggression blinds them."
Julius remembered clashing with a war-fueled spirit, its blows shaking the earth. His god-slaying strike had ended it, but the fight was brutal. "War's a beast," he muttered.
Fourth Spirit King (Wisdom): A cloaked figure with glowing eyes emerged. "Wisdom guides strategy, granting foresight. They manipulate battles through knowledge, not force."
Julius recalled a trap set by a spirit with uncanny foresight, nearly outwitting him. His Spiritual Domain had countered it, but the memory lingered. "They're tricky," he said.
Fifth Spirit King (Chaos): A swirling vortex of shadows appeared. "Chaos disrupts order, wielding unpredictable power. They challenge all, even other Kings."
Julius thought of the Mindless White God's chaotic energy, perhaps tied to this King. "Chaos is trouble," he said.
Mahito's voice darkened. "Indeed. They test even me."
Sixth Spirit King (Life): A radiant figure surrounded by blooming flora shone. "Life nurtures spirits, granting regeneration and growth. Their power heals but can overwhelm with endless vitality."
Julius recalled a spirit that regrew after every strike, forcing him to seal it entirely. "Life's stubborn," he noted.
Seventh Spirit King (Death): A skeletal monarch, eerily like Julius's army, appeared. "Death reaps souls, strengthening the hierarchy by recycling spirits. Their power is final, but they rarely intervene."
Julius shivered, his skeletons echoing Death's aura. "They're like me," he said.
Mahito's flames dimmed. "You wield a fraction of Death's will."
Eighth Spirit King (Admin): The vision trembled, showing a cosmic overseer cloaked in starlight. "Admin, the Arbiter, enforces the hierarchy's rules. Their power is unmatched, controlling the balance of all spirits. They judge gods and hunters alike, as you faced in Bakunawa's wrath."
Julius clenched his fists, recalling Chapter 29's battle. Admin's wrath had nearly ended him, only Mahito's contract saving him. "Admin's the top?"
Mahito nodded. "They are the end, the one who ensures Ragnarok's cycle persists—or ends."
The vision faded, and Mahito's form wavered. "This hierarchy is why you fight, Julius. Each King's power shapes the war. Admin watches, and a new shadow stirs—beyond even Ragnarok Infinity."
Julius stood, his resolve hardening. "Then I'll face it. For Bathala, for the diwatas, for the living."
Mahito smiled faintly. "Good. The war continues."
Outside, a skeleton tripped again, its skull rolling into a hunter's lap, sparking laughter. Julius grinned, the weight of knowledge balanced by the lightness of victory. The neverending war awaited, but for now, he was ready.
To Be Continued